Under pressure from surrounding businesses and residents to curtail noise produced by mowing equipment, a growing number of managers are turning to manufacturers for products that operate more quietly.

Hagen says gasoline and diesel engines on his company’s mowers offer lower operating revolutions per minute, resulting in less noise, and its zero-turn mowers feature engine covers that further reduce engine noise for the operator, Hagen says.

“Reduced engine noise is proven to reduce operator fatigue after long hours on the job,” he says.

European countries already have stringent standards for noise generated by mowing equipment, and U.S. customers are seeing the effect of those standards.

“Due in part to the significant business we conduct in Europe, Grasshopper has incorporated a number of changes that meet CE and ISO standards and result in reduced noise levels throughout our entire line,” Penner says. “Our newest deck designs are even quieter than those with CE certification for sound, vibration and safety standards.”

The CE mark, increasingly common on U.S. products, signifies a product complies with relevant European standards.

Looking Ahead

Mower manufacturers say they will continue looking for ways to respond to managers’ need for sustainable products and equipment. Eavenson points out several trends managers should watch for:

• more use of fuel injection on engines

• more use of renewable fuels, such as ethanol-blends and bio-diesel

• more use of alternative fuels

• greater integration of catalytic converters into the exhaust systems of gasoline- and diesel-powered mowers